Travel Information

On July 17, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published new  Regulatory Changes imposing significant updates to the “F” status, which includes OPT and STEM OPT. There is a 60-day implementation period from July 17, 2026 – September 15, 2026. The new regulations go into effect September 15, 2026. Only those “F” status individuals (including those on OPT or STEM OPT) who are fully compliant with all F-1 regulations are eligible for any “F status” related benefit. In addition to the Federal Register information, you may also review the US State Department Summary of the new regulations on their Study in the States website. We are in the process of updating our website accordingly. Feel free to contact iss@lesley.edu with specific questions. Please note that the information provided is subject to change and may evolve in response to developments in the immigration landscape. As such, it should not be considered static or permanent.

Immigration law specific to travel is changing rapidly. Please review the basic travel information below, then contact iss@lesley.edu to receive detailed guidelines on visa application and port of entry requirements. You may also submit the I-20 Travel Signature Request Form which includes up-to-date information.

For travel within the US by airplane, or long train or bus journey, have your passport and Form I-20 (and Employment Authorization Document, when applicable) in case you find yourself in a situation where you may need to present them to an official. For travel close to home, it is advisable to have PDF copies of above documentation on your cell phone.

By completing a Travel Signature Request Form from the International Student Forms page.   

You always need an I-20 with a recent travel signature from the Lesley International Student Advisor, a valid passport (valid at least six months beyond the I-20 program end date or beyond the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for those on OPT or STEM) and a valid multiple-entry F-1 visa (even if you’re on OPT). 

If you are maintaining legal F-1 or OPT/STEM status, do not re-enter on B1/B2 or WB/WT statuses, even if you are re-entering during school vacation periods. Doing so will automatically cancel your legal F-1 status and any on campus or off campus OPT or CPT work eligibility.  

If you have a pending non-immigrant petition with USCIS, consult with your immigration attorney before obtaining an I-20 travel signature AND before any travel outside of the US.  

Check travel advisories/alerts. It is best to be prepared and always check in advance of travel. Visit that country’s consular office in the US to see if you will require a visa to enter their country. This includes any visit to Canada or Mexico. Whether you require a visa to enter their country depends on your citizenship. You can do a web search for the country’s US consular post or mission. Most will have such an office in Washington DC and/or other major US cities.

Check the CDC website before travel for up-to-date, country-specific COVID and health requirements. 

Visit this website and answer a few simple questions to find out what you will need to enter Canada. If you have questions, contact the Canadian Consulate in New York.  

Travel to Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. No valid visa is needed to enter these territories. But you still need your Form I-20 with a recent International Student Advisor travel signature, an unexpired Form I-94, and passport with a multiple-entry F-1 visa. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the I-20 program end date for current students or beyond the Employment Authorization Document expiration if you are on OPT or STEM. Contact iss@lesley.edu before any travel to contiguous territories for advice.

It is important that you have all your documents in order at the port of entry to avoid being asked to go for secondary inspection. But please note that the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers have the right to do random secondary inspections, and that it is a common occurrence. Students who have gone through secondary inspection before may be at higher risk for it happening again. Because we do not have the full scope of someone’s immigration history beyond the information provided to our office to obtain the Lesley I-20, we cannot predict the outcome of a secondary inspection. If you feel you need to discuss any aspects of your case with an attorney, we will be happy to provide you with an immigration resource list at your request. When asked to go into secondary inspection, be polite and honest during this process. CBP is doing this on many travelers, so the process can take a few hours. Under certain circumstances, F-1 students may be issued a Form I-515. If this happens, contact iss@lesley.edu immediately upon completing your entry process for additional follow-up which may require an immediate issuance of an updated I-20. Also contact us if you are ever in doubt if all was processed properly with your last entry to the US.  We recommend you always review your most recent I-94 within 48 hours of each re-entry to the US to ensure that CBP processed your status correctly.

It is important to note that CBP officers have always had the legal authority to conduct a complete search of you and your belongings, including electronic devices, and they may request passwords to access locked devices. If a foreign national refuses to provide passwords, they may be prevented from entering the US. They can review files, data, and social media activity.

Please note that cannabis is still a federal offense. Immigration officials are known to ask individuals if they have ever possessed or used marijuana. If they answer yes, they can be found inadmissible and denied entry into the US or have any pending petition with USCIS denied, including an application for lawful status or naturalization. It does not matter if cannabis is permitted in the US state that you reside. Federal law always overrides state law. You may also review the Department of State information: What is Secondary Inspection? | Study in the States (dhs.gov).

Immigration officials are known to ask individuals if they have ever possessed or used marijuana (cannabis). If they answer yes, they can be found inadmissible, denied entry into the US, or have their application for lawful status or naturalization denied. It will not matter if marijuana is permitted in the US state that you reside. Federal law always overrides state law. In addition, please note that despite changes to Massachusetts law, the use, possession, purchase, processing, and manufacturing of marijuana – including medical marijuana – remain prohibited under federal law and, thus, are prohibited everywhere on Lesley’s campus. Please familiarize yourself with Lesley’s Drugs and Alcohol Policy, and the Smoke-Free Environment Policy.

This is a very important step. An explanation of the I-94 is on the Immigration Documents page of our site, including instructions on how to download a copy for your review. 

Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor,” is issued at the port of entry to F-1 students with incomplete port of entry paperwork. It is critical that you contact iss@lesley.edu immediately upon re-entering if issued this document or if you encountered any other problems at the port of entry. The International Student Advisor has a very limited timeline to resolve the situation.

The Form I-515A is issued at the port of entry to F-1 students with incomplete port of entry paperwork. It is critical that you contact iss@lesley.edu immediately upon re-entering if issued this document or if you encountered any other problems at the port of entry. The International Student Advisor has a very limited timeline to resolve the situation.